Welcome to Jive Party

Fancy some jive dancing in a fabulous retro ballroom – with a live band, DJs filling in and a beginners’ jive lesson to kick the evening into swing? Our ever-popular monthly Saturday nights have a lively buzz, great music and everyone from 18 to 80 taking to the floor!

February 27th: King Groovy & The Horn Stars

Once again we’re delighted to welcome back London’s grooviest 17-piece big band! Drawing dedicated and talented musicians from across the city, the Horn Stars features the traditional big band line-up of five saxophones, four trombones, four trumpets, a rhythm section of piano, drums, bass and guitar, plus the gorgeous voice of sassy singer Sarah Lee.  This is what ballrooms were built for! Don’t miss.

Book for February 27 2010: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/69295

£550 raised for Haiti appeal

To do something to help out the people in stricken Haiti we donated our cloakroom takings on Jan 16 to the Disasters Emergency Committee Haiti fund – this together with all the many additional contributions made by  dancers during the night raised a total of £550. We’re sending this amount to the fund a.s.a.p.

January 16 2010: The Cadillac Kings

The Cadillac Kings

We’re kicking off the century’s second decade with some blistering blues and jump jive courtesy of The Cadillac Kings. I quote: “Featuring six of the UK’s top blues & roots musicians, The Cadillac Kings play music inspired by the sounds & styles of the ‘40s & ‘50s. A mix of mostly original songs with a few well-chosen covers from the likes of T-Bone Walker, Roy Brown & Champion Jack Dupree have made the band firm favourites on both the blues & jump-jive scenes. With their stunning musicianship & exciting stage act, this is a band that knows how to entertain audiences across the board, from arts centres to dance-halls, from intimate clubs to major festivals.”

If you saw these guys at The Rivoli back in July 09 you’ll be back for this one! As usual there will be a beginners’ jive class and DJs to complete the evening’s entertainment.

Photos from Nov 21

December 19: Oo-Bop-Sh’Bam

Put the 19th in your advent calendar – Oo-Bop-Sh’Bam are back to rock the Rivoli!

Oo-Bop-Sh’Bam play classic live boogie-woogie and rhythm ‘n’ blues, taking their influences from the small combos of the 40s and 50s, where swinging and singing ruled the day!

Their jumpin’ jivin’ sound has a classic bounce dance feel. These journeymen of jump have many years of gigging between them, having played with and backed some of the best UK, European and American artists around today.

Favourites at Jive Party, Jackson and the Oo-Boppin’ boys will be back for our Christmas Jive Party – tickets will be on the door but reckon you might want to book? £13 on the door, £13 + booking fee in advance. Here’s the link: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/62432

November 21st 2009: King Groovy & The Horn Stars

To help us celebrate 16 years of ‘Jive Party’, we’re proud and delighted to welcome back London’s grooviest 17-piece big band for another impossibly glorious night of swing, jive and whatever else! Drawing dedicated and talented musicians from across the city, the Horn Stars features the traditional big band line-up of five saxophones, four trombones, four trumpets, a rhythm section of piano, drums, bass and guitar, plus vocalist. Well I guess that describes the line-up – but to hear these fine musicians is somethin’ else! It will be a blast, guaranteed. Come prepared for a great time.

October 17 2009: The Sentinels of Rhythm

Yes the quite superb Sentinels of Rhythm are back at The Rivoli Ballroom for what we promise will be a phantasmagorical night of jive laced with lashings of good old rhythm n blues! Where else would you wanna be on Oct 17?

September 19 2009: Honey B & The Kings of Sting

West country 7-piece jive band make the trip to the smoke to give us a blast of good old rock n roll!

August 08 2009: The Slammers

Earlier in the month than usual, August 8th sees the return of The Slammers Maximum Jive Band to the Jive Party stage at The Rivoli Ballroom, and we can’t wait – fortunately we won’t have to wait long! Here’s what others have said about this brilliant band:

“… The band produce a big beefy sound, fashioned by a brass section featuring Andy Burns and Mike Doris on tenor sax and trombone respectively, in addition to James Gray’s baritone sax and occasional harmonica. James took the lead vocal role throughout the two sets, ably assisted by enthusiastic backing vocals from the rest of the band, particularly during “Oh, Marie” and “Just A Gigolo”. “Stagger Lee” raised the tempo nicely, as did the Louise Jordan selections “Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens” and “Choo Choo Ch’Boogie”, necessitating the production of a couple of industrial fans to prevent the dancers overheating! The finale featured a swinging “All Of Me”, included on the band’s recently released CD Jive Time, plus a storming “Jump Jive And Wail” for the demanded encore to end the live entertainment in fine style.”

- Darrell Parsons (Swamp Rock Gig Review 12.01.08)

“These guys put on a great show, they had the dance floor filled from the start and left everybody with huge smiles on their faces”
– Simon Selmon, London Swing Dance Society.